Momentum back on the Lakers’ side

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Maurice Evans goes to the basket for the Lakers in Sunday’s game against the Warriors in Oakland. Evans scored a career-high 26 points and Kobe Bryant also poured in 26 to lead L.A. to a one-sided triumph. The Lakers take on Utah tonight.<br>

OAKLAND – It was only two weeks ago in Cleveland that Lakers coach Phil Jackson offered a reminder that life in the NBA is nothing more than a six-month roller-coaster ride between winning and losing.

His team was on the downward plunge that Sunday, ultimately bottoming out with a six-game losing streak. Now the question is if the Lakers are back on the upswing after their second cruise-control victory in 72 hours.

They beat the Golden State Warriors 102-85 Sunday at Oracle Arena, building a 20-point lead in the second quarter en route to the win.

They did it with Maurice Evans making his case to stay in the starting lineup, scoring a career-high 26 points, and with the Warriors making just 2 of 19 3-pointers and 9 of 21 free throws.

Golden State came in averaging 105.8 points a game.

“I told the players this afternoon that we have Mo on our side,” Jackson said, “and we have to stay with it, in more ways than one.”

Are the Lakers back after their six-game losing streak? The answer might come tonight against the Utah Jazz, who are leading the Northwest Division with a 37-18 record and are 2-0 since Carlos Boozer’s return from injury.

“You can’t forget about (the skid) because it’s so easy to happen,” Evans said. “You have to really stay focused and try and build this streak the other way because … teams are good in this league and they can take control in a minute’s notice.”

The Lakers did just that at the start of the second quarter, turning what had been a four-point game into a 20-point rout. Once again Shammond Williams and Aaron McKie were the first guards off the bench, but Evans came through with the play of the game.

Evans leaped to steal a pass by Sarunas Jasikevicius, then hit a shot that lived up to his Kobe Bryant-given nickname of “Lotto.” With Jasikevicius wrapping him up with both hands, Evans tossed in a layup while drawing the foul.

“I think that’s what having good strength will allow you to do,” Evans said, “is still make a run at tough shots.”

The next possession, Evans buried a 3-pointer to send the Warriors into a timeout down 44-28.

The Lakers are now 4-0 with Evans in the starting lineup. He made 8 of 13 shots.

Bryant shook off a blow to his left shoulder to finish with 26 points on 9-of-23 shooting.

He served notice at the start of the second half, stealing an Al Harrington pass and taking it the other way for a three-point play.

That defensive activity might be the biggest change for the Lakers.

They had 11 steals in Friday’s victory over Boston and another 11 steals Sunday.

McKie sent most of the crowd to the exits in the fourth quarter when he drilled a 19-footer with seven minutes remaining. The Lakers fans who remained until the final horn crowded the first rows of seats to cheer Bryant as he ran off the court.